potty training

[vicki lynn]

I need help potty training my two young shelties they were born on 11/29/08
I am at the last draw i have no idea of what to do know. i have tried just about everything
Please help me.

 

[Ann]

Your pups are still young to be completely house trained. They don't really have control until almost six months of age, although most pups if crated will resist soiling in their crates, so if you're having a problem my first question would be do you have crates for them and how much time do they spend in them? They should be crated (separately, in two crates) except for trips outside to do their business, after which you can let them have some play time out of the crates. Young pups should go out every hour or two until they get the idea, and be treated when they perform.

Let us know what you've tried so far and we can advise you from there. You might also check out the threads on this forum under Behavior. There are a number of threads on potty training there that will be helpful. Good luck!

 

[jasps]

I believe that in most instances confusion is the main cause of problems with toilet training. Positive reinforcement in my opinion is the best and quickest method.

My pup, now 5 months, was 99.9% clean and dry at 11 weeks. We have only had the odd 'accident', and I mean 4 or 5 since then, usually during the night when he hasn't been able to tell us he wanted out.

We never scolded him if he did anything in the house, we just accepted that it was part and parcel of having a puppy. We just completely ignored him. However, when he did something outside mega praise, treat as reward, a really big deal, way over the top. Didn't take long and it avoids any confusion, which I often think puppy pads, newspapers, picking up and taking outside can cause.

I have used this method on the three pups I have had and it has worked a treat with all of them.

To make this work though, you need to be very disciplined about taking him/her out. Every hour at least, and after meals, sleeping, playing etc.

Good luck,
Adam

 

[BarbV]

Yes, please tell us what you have been trying and what results you are currently getting. It would make it alot easier to determine what alternate approaches you can take.

As Ann, suggests, crate training is the most reliable method - along with eagle eyes, and never letting pups out of your sight.

Cheers
Barb